"The air-conditioners are so old and beat up, I figure why waste electrical power during an energy crunch when I can just take off all my clothes and work nude? I come from cold, foggy San Francisco, so I like it when the heat is sweltering. It's a nice treat to work nude."

"Wall Street got drunk, it got drunk, (it's one of the reasons I asked you to turn off your tv cameras.) It got drunk and now it's got a hangover. The question is how long will it sober up, and not try to do all these fancy financial instruments."

As the administration wrestles with the cascade of petitions, some lawyers and law professors are raising a related question: Will Mr. Bush grant pre-emptive pardons to officials involved in controversial counterterrorism programs?

Such a pardon would reduce the risk that a future administration might undertake a criminal investigation of operatives or policy makers involved in programs that administration lawyers have said were legal but that critics say violated laws regarding torture and surveillance.

--President G. W. Bush, at a meeting on climate change.
(Read the story here

07/09/08: FISA Amendments: Bush commits felony, Democrats roll over

"What the Democrats are doing here with the White House is they're trying to conceal a crime that is hiding in plain view. ... Nobody wants to have a confrontation over the fact that the president committed a felony. ... That's a very inconvenient fact right now in Washington.

"The Democrats have learned well from Bush. They're just going to change the rules. ... It's otherworldly. ... I am completely astonished by Senator Obama's position -- and obviously disappointed. All of these senators need to respect us enough not to call it a compromise. It's a cave-in."

--Jonathan Turley, Professor of Constitutional Law, George Washington University Law School
(on MSNBC, via The Raw Story)

Q: Sirius's impending merger with XM is anticipated to boost earnings. Do you own any stock in the company?Lou Reed: What are you, a fucking asshole? I'm here telling you the truth about music and you want to know if I have stock in the fucking radio? You fucking piece of shit. What did I do to deserve that?

Q Mr. President, you haven't been golfing in recent years. Is that related to Iraq?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, it really is. I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the Commander-in-Chief playing golf. I feel I owe it to the families to be as -- to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.

Q Mr. President, was there a particular moment or incident that brought you to that decision, or how did you come to that?

THE PRESIDENT: No, I remember when de Mello, who was at the U.N., got killed in Baghdad as a result of these murderers taking this good man's life. And I was playing golf -- I think I was in central Texas -- and they pulled me off the golf course and I said, it's just not worth it anymore to do.

A WaPo column reveals Bush has indeed played golf since he made that solemn vow. BUSTED!!

05/05/08: Happy Anniverysary, "Mission Accompished" banner!

Q: How does the President intend to commemorate "Mission Accomplished" after five years of death and destruction?

Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary: Yes, I get -- no, I understand. That's the anniversary of when that banner flew on that ship. President Bush is well aware that the banner should have been much more specific and said "mission accomplished for these sailors who are on this ship on their mission." And we have certainly paid a price for not being more specific on that banner. And I recognize that the media is going to play this up again tomorrow, as they do every single year.

From a White House press briefing, 4/30/2008

04/24/08: Casino Capitalism

"It is shocking that people are now speculating on increases in food prices. Banks are telling their clients to bet on soaring prices. The result is that there is now an incentive for speculators to create food shortages.

"Casino capitalism has taken a seat at the table of the poor. This is immorality carried to the extreme. This is why we need international controls on financial markets."

--Martin Schultz, German member of the EU Parliament.

03/14/08: Bush's musings regarding the romance of military service.

"I must say, I'm a little envious. If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed. It must be exciting for you … in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You're really making history, and thanks."

--President G. W. Bush (who never served a single moment on the frontlines of battle), via video conference with military and civilian personnel in Afghanistan.

03/05/08: Snatching defeat

"And so, General, I want to thank you for your service. And I appreciate the fact that you really snatched defeat out of the jaws of those who are trying to defeat us in Iraq."